I had a rare but enjoyable visit from two of my cousins who live deep in southern Ohio this past week.

My first cousin Sandy Wilkin is my late mother’s niece, and she always reminds me very much of the entire Lambert side of my family. She and her son, Adam, stopped by after attending a convention focused on American pattern glass at Oglebay Park. You see, Sandy’s dad, my late Uncle Si, was an avid antique and pottery dealer, and Sandy followed in his footsteps after her retirement as a teacher.

It had probably been three years since I had seen Sandy and Adam in person — and that is too long for relatives to be apart.

They didn’t stay long that afternoon, but we all definitely enjoyed the time together. We gathered at my brother Larry’s house with him and his wife Marie and all enjoyed a lively conversation.

From politics to education to the Wilkins’ adventures in collecting and Sandy’s very creative side that results in all sorts of amazing crafts, we talked about a little bit of everything.

And even though we didn’t all grow up together, getting reacquainted was easy.

Adam is much closer to my age, so we shared some laughs and memories of being kids together. Larry and Sandy were able to do the same. And Marie obviously shared Sandy’s interest in “junk journals” and “bots” as well as travel, festivals and bargain hunting.

I’m not sure why we don’t make more time to visit all of our relatives. It’s always a positive experience, and it’s something we will surely miss once the opportunity to do so has passed.

So, if you haven’t done so lately, reach out to your family. I think you’ll be glad you did.